Reggae Music

Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. Although strongly influenced by traditional African, American Jazz and old-time R&B, Reggae owes its direct origins to the progressive development of Ska and Rocksteady in 1960s Jamaica. An important factor in this development was the influence of Rastafari, with Rasta drummers like Count Ossie bringing their influence of rhythmic patterns into the music. The Wailers, a band started by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963, is perhaps the most recognized band that made the transition through all three stages of early Jamaican popular music: Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae. Other significant Reggae pioneers include Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker and Ken Boothe.